BRAVE HORSE

JUNE 2013

Welcome to the Extreme Cowboy Association   

We are excited about 2013 and the many fun filled and exciting Extreme Cowboy Racing events that are on the schedule.  The formation of EXCA has been an thrilling and challenging adventure! Many people have worked tirelessly to create an association that you will be proud to tell your friends about.

This is the latest issue of your monthly newsletter, The Brave Horse.

You will receive it each month electronically around the middle of the month.  The Brave Horse will be full of interesting stories, EXCA event results, point standings, human interest stories about EXCA members and Tips and Tales from our founder, Craig Cameron.  We encourage you to communicate your suggestions for stories and ideas that will make The Brave Horse fun, better and more informative.  The Brave Horse the best newsletter in the equine world.

Please forward your ideas and suggestions to Frank Turben at webmaster@extremecowboyassociation.com

One-Rein Stopping

Don't always us both reins to stop.  There are variations of the one-rein stop you can practice to help sharpen your horse.  Stopping with one rein keeps your horse softer and more supple because if you constantly pull with both reins, your horse might eventually learn to stiffen and brace against you.  If you snatch or jerk, he'll tense his lower jaw or poll, which makes him stiff all over. 

Ask for a right-rein stop with a light hold but support or brace just enough with the left rein to keep your horse straight.  Next, stop with the left rein and support enough with the right rein to enforce straightness.

Try putting your hands at an angle.  For example, for stopping with the right rein hold your right hand down low and your left hand up a little higher. Stop with the right support with the left.  This is a very effective way to stop and gives your horse a different feel.

Then reverse the procedure.  Drop your left hand down low support slightly with the right.  Next, use both reins to stop your horse.  By using a combination of ways to stop you, teach him to give to pressure from either rein in any form.  It'll keep your horse light and paying attention to you. Bear in mind the goal is to achieve a soft or loose-rein stop.

So, in the stop the most important things are to sit, melt down say "whoa" and use your hands in a variety of ways.

Take hold of your horse only as much as he needs.  In other words, take only as much slack out of the reins as required to stop your horse.  Never jerk from a loose rein.  If you have to take a good hold of your horse, take the slack out of the reins first then use those reins as much or little as your horse tells you is necessary.  As always, learn to listen to your horse.  If your horse wants to pull against you, then hold as much as he pulls.  If he's soft, then you be soft.  The quicker you release, the lighter your horse will get.

Remember though that a good stop comes from straightness.  A horse really can't stop well if he's crooked or sideways.  The way you get him straight is through the simple flexibility exercises in Chapter 15.

Quality stops aren't about jerking snatching or rushing the horse.  It's the preparation from the rider that allows the horse to follow a feel.  Good stops are about teaching and not making the horse stop.  Build in the "want-to." 

Excerpt from:  RIDE SMART by Craig Cameron with Kathy Swan.  Page 187-188  Published by Western Horseman.